Hampshire College Student Computing Acceptable Use Policy
Hampshire College's computing, server, network, and web resources support academic, research, and administrative needs of all students, faculty, and staff members of the College community. The following policy is intended to shape the College's use of these resources and to assert our shared values and expectations. Students must agree to this policy in order to use these resources.
The College owns the network, servers, and all College-purchased computer systems. Personal use of the College's computing resources is permissible as long as it does not interfere with other users' access to resources for academic work and is not excessive. The College assumes no obligation to retain any personal files or other information after a student graduates or withdraws from the College.
Accounts to College resources, including email, are issued to all students at time of enrollment and remain in effect as long as the student maintains a relationship with the College. These accounts are for the sole use of the student to whom they are issued. Accounts are not transferable. Students are responsible for choosing secure passwords and maintaining password confidentiality. Students are also responsible for checking their College email accounts regularly, as all official College correspondence via email is sent to these accounts only. The College is not responsible for setting up, using, or forwarding email to any other account. Students may retain email accounts in perpetuity as alums in accordance with the College's email policy.
Students may not access, inspect, or alter any file or directory belonging to another user without his/her permission. Students may not harass other users by sending unwanted email, programs, or other files that are knowingly disruptive or may be reasonably construed as threatening or disparaging of others. Students may not knowingly forward virus-infected email or files to others, and are strongly encouraged to maintain updated virus protection software on their computers. Students may not use the College's resources to gain unauthorized access to other computing resources either on campus or elsewhere. Nor may they use College computing, network, or web resources, including access to the Internet, for solicitation or operation of commercial ventures or interests. Students may not use the College's computer resources in a way that violates the College's sexual harassment or non-discrimination policies.
The College believes in freedom of speech regardless of the medium used for communication, and does not wish to act as a censor of information on College resources, including web page content. However, the College will investigate complaints arising either from the College community or external sources and will comply with and enforce applicable laws and College policies as appropriate. All email and files on College-owned computers and servers are legally the property of the College. The College reserves the right to inspect email and files and take appropriate action without notice if there is reasonable belief that there has been intentional or inadvertent disruption to the College's network or other shared resources, or if there is suspected violation of this policy or applicable laws.
Students may not damage, deface, alter, or remove any College computing equipment from campus without authorization or deliberately attempt to degrade the performance of College computing or network resources. Students may not install software on any College computer system without appropriate authorization or install software that is in violation of any licensing agreement.
Guidelines regarding plagiarism and academic integrity apply to course work completed on computers, network, and web resources just as they do with any other type of course work. Students should be aware of and abide by all applicable copyright laws and licenses.
Violation of any guidelines in this policy may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to loss of the privilege to use the College's computing resources.